Deadline extended for incentive campaign to apply for 'My Number' ID card

Japan's government has extended the deadline of an incentive campaign for people to apply for "My Number" ID cards with certain conditions, due to congestion at municipal offices by last-minute applicants.

In the campaign, points worth up to 20,000 yen, or about 146 dollars, are given to those who receive My Number cards and register to use their cards for public health insurance.

To get the points, people must apply for their cards by Tuesday, though applications for points will be accepted through May.

The internal affairs ministry announced an emergency measure to accept applications for the cards on Wednesday and even later for those who went to municipal offices on Tuesday.

The ministry is allowing municipal authorities to work out details such as providing tickets as proof of Tuesday visits to their offices.

The ministry is also allowing one more day for online applications, as sites are hard to access due to heavy use. It says those who complete their applications on Wednesday will be eligible to get the points.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230228_36/